BIO 205 Eukaryotic Cell Biology

3 hours 

The domain of life known as Eukarya consists of Plants, Animals, Fungi, and Protists, whose cells contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, contrasting them with prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea), which do not. In BIO 205, students will explore the cells of eukaryotes, with a focus on human cells. Major topics include the structure, function, and biosynthesis of cellular membranes and organelles; subcellular traffic of molecules; cellular energy metabolism; receptors and cellular signaling; the cytoskeleton, the extracellular matrix, cellular attachments and cell movements; the evolution of cellular structures and multicellularity; and cell growth and oncogenic transformation. Students will be introduced to the scientific literature of cell biology and learn to explore and critique cellular research strategies. Scientific ethics, objectivity, experimental design, and critical analysis of the discipline will be stressed throughout.